MediVoice Papyrus Essay Contest 2026: Win Up to ₦50,000

MediVoice News and Literary Club of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is inviting applications for the fourth edition of its Papyrus Essay Contest, an annual writing competition designed to promote critical thinking, intellectual engagement and quality writing among university students.

The 2026 edition challenges participants to examine the causes of academic underperformance in Nigeria through the topic:

"The Nigerian Olodo: A Victim of the System or Architect of His Own Failure?"

The competition offers cash prizes of up to ₦50,000 to the top three participants.

Competition Topic

Participants are required to write an essay addressing:

The Nigerian Olodo: A Victim of the System or Architect of His Own Failure?

The topic invites students to critically examine the factors responsible for poor academic performance in Nigeria.

Participants are expected to explore the relationship between individual responsibility and systemic challenges, including the quality of education, institutional shortcomings, socioeconomic conditions, learning environments and students' attitudes towards learning.

Entries should present clear arguments supported by relevant examples, evidence and logical reasoning.

Prizes

The competition offers the following cash awards:

Position| Cash Prize

Winner| ₦50,000

First Runner-up| ₦30,000

Second Runner-up| ₦20,000

Eligibility Requirements

To participate, applicants must:

1. Be currently enrolled students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

2. Submit an original essay addressing the announced topic.

3. Comply with the prescribed word count and formatting requirements.

4. Complete the registration process through the organisers' designated entry form.

Important: This is an institution-specific competition. Students from other universities and tertiary institutions are not eligible under the announced requirements.

Essay Submission Requirements

All entries must satisfy the following conditions:

- Word count: 800–1,000 words.

- Font: Times New Roman.

- Font size: 12.

- Spacing: Double-spaced.

- Originality: The essay must be the participant's original work and must not have been previously published or submitted to another competition.

- Referencing: Sources, statistics and quotations must be properly acknowledged.

- Individual entries: Joint or co-authored submissions will not be accepted.

- Anonymity: Participants must not include their names or identifying information in the essay. Personal information should be supplied separately through the entry form.

- AI-generated content: Substantial AI-generated entries will be disqualified.

Entries exceeding the word limit or failing to satisfy the eligibility and submission requirements will be disqualified.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be evaluated based on:

1. Originality and creativity.

2. Relevance to the essay topic.

3. Quality of analysis and argument.

4. Clarity and quality of writing.

Participants are encouraged to develop independent arguments, demonstrate critical thinking and support their positions with credible evidence.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible OAU students should:

1. Prepare an original essay addressing the announced topic.

2. Ensure the essay contains between 800 and 1,000 words.

3. Format the document using Times New Roman, font size 12 and double spacing.

4. Properly acknowledge all sources, statistics and quotations.

5. Remove their names and other identifying information from the essay.

6. Complete the official registration form and submit their entries according to the organisers' instructions.

Registration: Applicants should obtain the official entry form through MediVoice's communication channels.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the fourth edition of the Papyrus Essay Contest is:

28 November 2026.

Eligible students are encouraged to submit their entries before the closing date.

About MediVoice

MediVoice is the News and Literary Club of the Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students' Association (IFUMSA).

Established to promote journalism, literature and creative expression within the university's medical community, the organisation provides a platform for students to develop their writing and communication skills.

The Papyrus Essay Contest is one of its literary activities, providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical and writing abilities.

Official Website:

https://themedivoiceoau.com/

Organisation Information:

https://themedivoiceoau.com/about-2/